Aozaki Aoko [640-641] (Patreon)

Chapter 640

Research at the Bethany Base is proceeding steadily. Thanks to the presence of JA equipment, Unit-05 can now perform simple movements even without a pilot, such as transferring from one hangar to another.

Most of the main components of Unit-02α have now been installed. A reinforcement rig has been fitted to both arms; it looks a bit like the steel pin frames Soviet-era doctors used to fix and guide bone growth for arm surgery patients. The difference is that this frame, besides stabilizing the bones, is also part of Unit-05's power armor/restraint system.

The unit's power source was also installed recently: the latest-model N2 fusion reactor, mounted on Unit-05α's back. When running at full power, the neutron-absorbing control rods temporarily eject, making it look like a hedgehog.

The unmodified, bare Unit-05's head originally resembled a whale with a huge tumor on its forehead, with no eyes or teeth. But in this timeline, all of that has been corrected because of Touko's influence.

The head armor styling looks somewhat like a potential future Unit-08, but because of the number of eyes there are only two head monitors. The paint scheme—including the JA equipment—is all in military greens, giving it an extremely hardcore look. It's likely the world's militaries would love this style...

Originally, the Vatican Treaty prohibited building military EVAs, but this River Styx Guardian, Unit-05α, with launchers all over its body—doesn't that make it a bona fide military EVA? Are those N2 aerial depth charges in the launch racks supposed to be fireworks?

Because of this, international observers questioned the Bethany Base's construction plans. After all, on paper NERV is still a subordinate organization managed by the United Nations, and the Five Permanent Members have the right to inquire about branch details. A military EVA is the reverse scale of the reverse scale for every nation.

But as an interested party, the Bethany branch absolutely refused to admit to any of that. A military EVA? It's nothing more than necessary equipment to defeat the Angels. What, are we supposed to take a high-frequency vibrating dagger and brawl with Angels like cavemen? What about the pilots' human rights!

In short, after the branch chief wrangled with the national representatives at the international conference, they ultimately succeeded in having Unit-05's status recognized without slapping on the military EVA label that would violate the Vatican Treaty. That tempest came to a close.

However, although Touko had done her utmost to help Unit-05 and Bethany Base avoid various potential risks, sometimes the internal troubles were what really gave her a headache.

Like the one right in front of her.

"I propose we must install a self-destruct device in Unit-05's core!" declared a senior base executive with a sinister look during the meeting. "No one can guarantee Unit-05 will defeat the Third Angel in direct combat. If we fail, self-destruction is our final insurance."

"Insurance? Insurance for whom?" another researcher who had a feud with him shouted angrily. "Unit-05a is the product of our collective toil, and the pilot is a fourteen-year-old child. You've got the gall to make a kid self-destruct?!"

"Watch your words, Researcher Grasim!" the sinister-faced executive roared back. "We're discussing the survival of humanity. If you become an EVA pilot, young or not, you must be prepared to sacrifice for mankind!"

"Oh? You want to lecture me about resolve?" Researcher Grasim said with cutting sarcasm. "I hear your daughter, Sasha, is also fourteen this year. Why not bring her to Bethany Base for testing? Maybe she can synchronize with Unit-05. Fighting for humanity is the highest honor, isn't it? What do you say?"

"You!" The sinister-faced executive shot to his feet, veins bulging on his forehead, glaring at Grasim as if the man had just dug up his ancestors' graves. "How dare you mention my daughter?!"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Seeing the executive lose his temper, Grasim only calmed further. "The orphans chosen by the Marduk Institute can be sacrificed, but your daughter can't? Your daughter is a person; those orphaned pilots are people too! You life-despising piece of trash!"

"How dare you say that?! I'll—" "Enough!" the branch chief barked, cutting off their bickering. "What do you think you're doing, squabbling like street vendors in a meeting? We're discussing key issues of the Unit-05 project, not hosting your personal grudge match!"

"Dr. Aozaki, what do you think?" The chief turned to the silent Touko. He held this diligent, brilliant scientist in high esteem—or rather, most of Bethany's major achievements in recent years had come under Touko's direction, and her opinion had grown very influential. "Regarding the self-destruct device, how should we decide?"

"I'm against installing a self-destruct device," Touko stated calmly and clearly.

This immediately drew the sinister executive's ire toward her. Compared to Grasim, Touko's opinion clearly carried more weight. "But it's not for any so-called moral or ethical reasons."

"Oh?" The chief raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Let's hear it."

"First, if you want a self-destruct device, there are basically two methods," Touko said. "One is to overload the N2 reactor, overheat it, and cause an explosion. But the scale of that blast is limited, because it's a reactor, not an N2 warhead. The residual radiation is also something we can't handle—after a self-destruct, Bethany Base becomes unusable. The second is to mount N2 warheads on Unit-05's core. But N2 warheads require significant volume. In the current design, there isn't enough space near the core to install them. Install too few and it's pointless—you won't even break an Angel's Absolute Territory. What's the point of self-destruct then?"

The people present nodded repeatedly at Touko's explanation. The self-destruct proponent clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, unable to find a rebuttal.

"Second, there's the question of whether a self-destruct device would affect Unit-05's combat capability," Touko continued. "We all know the Third Angel's beam attacks are extremely powerful. What if a single beam detonates Unit-05's self-destruct system? A leak of N2 depth charges would be catastrophic. The battle wouldn't even be over and we'd have ignited our own powder keg. That would be a terrible trade."

Most of those present were already persuaded and nodded along. The outcome of the meeting was all but decided; there was little suspense left.

But Touko's true reason for opposing a self-destruct device on Unit-05 remained unspoken: to prevent it from being exploited by the spy who would soon arrive.

Chapter 641: The Two Who Arrived

Though a few clowns popped up to make noise, the construction of Unit-05α was successfully completed, and the modification and installation of a self-destruct device was successfully voted down. This left certain Bethany Base higher-ups disgraced, and they began to secretly gather strength, plotting revenge on Touko and the chief's faction.

But what they didn't know was that neither the chief nor Touko cared much about their maneuvering. No matter how they ganged up to ostracize or obstruct, the Committee would not replace the most competent people in the organization based on others' opinions.

Democracy has never been in SEELE's vocabulary.

Trouble never comes alone; troublesome people never give you time to rest. Right after the chief reported the completion of the "River Styx Guardian," Unit-05α, the Fourth Children and her guardian from the German branch arrived at Bethany Base. It was hard not to suspect they'd timed it to the minute.

As the lead researcher on both the Third Angel project and the Unit-05 project, Touko naturally had to personally receive these two.

She took the base's internal rail tram and spent almost an hour traversing the Limbo Sector, finally reaching the top level of Bethany Base—Acheron.

Kaji Ryoji and the Fourth Children arrived aboard a tiltrotor that took off from a warship. It resembled an Osprey, but had an extra pair of jet engines to increase redundancy and maneuverability.

As the roar of the huge rotors drew near, Touko saw the helicopter finally settle on the helipad. The cabin door slammed open and two figures jumped down, landing steadily on the tarmac.

Touko and the base chief walked forward. The taller figure spotted them and came to meet them; the shorter one followed behind.

"Welcome to the Bethany Branch Base, colleagues from the German division," the chief said, extending his hand to the lead figure, Kaji Ryoji. "I take it this is the Fourth Children?"

"The real deal!" Mari answered brightly in English. "I can't wait to pilot Unit-05 already~"

"I've long heard of Bethany Base's impressive results. Seeing it in person today makes the trip more than worthwhile," Kaji said with a smile. "I'll be working with everyone at Bethany for a while. I hope we'll have a pleasant collaboration!"

"I presume this is Dr. Aozaki Touko?" Kaji turned to Touko. "I've heard so much about you. An old classmate of mine often mentioned you, saying you're one of the most gifted scholars in recent years. Judging by Bethany's accomplishments, she was clearly right."

He extended his hand to shake, but Touko looked the spy up and down. Unimpressed by his habit of radiating testosterone at women, she didn't take his hand at all, forcing Kaji to awkwardly withdraw it.

The chief was a little surprised, but seeing Kaji's playboy demeanor, it was normal for him to rub certain serious women the wrong way, so he didn't pay it much mind.

Touko simply stepped around Kaji and came to stand in front of Mari, fixing her with a direct stare that made Mari feel a twinge of guilt.

"H-hello, Dr. Aozaki!" Mari suddenly felt nervous and took the initiative to greet this old acquaintance. "When can we start testing? I can't wait!"

"You'll need to undergo a series of physical examinations first," Touko said expressionlessly, placing her hands on Mari's shoulders like iron clamps. "For our work to go smoothly later, we need to have a little 'in-depth exchange.' I have a lot to say to you..."

With that, Touko marched Mari off toward the base infirmary, while Kaji was whisked away by the base chief—leaving the spy a bit embarrassed. It seemed this was the first time in his life he'd struck out so badly with a woman.

—Cut line—

Although Kaji prided himself on his experience with women, he was no slouch at dealing with men either. At least among Bethany's higher management, most felt at ease around him, thinking he was a tasteful, emotionally intelligent man.

What troubled him, though, was that among the researchers his reputation was abysmal, making him suspect he'd unknowingly offended some major figure.

In fact, he wasn't wrong. The major figure targeting him was Touko.

Touko's standing among Bethany's researchers was sky-high. She'd led them through barriers on critical topics repeatedly, and not long ago she'd knocked back a harebrained executive's proposal to install a self-destruct device with irrefutable arguments.

So once the word spread in the research circles that Touko dislikes Kaji Ryoji, their attitude toward him was predictable.

This will hinder my operations at Bethany to some extent... Kaji mused. But he hadn't yet found a way to crack it; Touko continued to keep him at arm's length. Has my reputation rotted so badly that even French scholars know?

…

In the infirmary, Mari lay obediently on a dentist-chair-like recliner, coat off, wearing only plain underwear. Touko covered her with electrodes of all kinds.

"It really has been a long time, hasn't it, Miss Mari," Touko smiled, recording the instruments' readings as she spoke to the immobilized Mari. "Care to tell me why you've turned out like this?"

"Sigh..." Mari let out a breath, as if giving something up. "I get the feeling I can't lie in front of Miss Touko."

Touko smiled without replying, waiting for Mari's answer.

"It's because of my promise to Senior Yui," Mari said seriously. "Ikari Gendo's understanding of the Human Instrumentality Project may be completely different from the Committee's."

"...Human Instrumentality Project?" Touko blinked, feigning ignorance of the term.

"A bunch of delusional old men's last struggle," Mari said. "I promised Senior Yui that I'd make sure that child finds happiness."